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A free day with the promise of clear weather meant i could head for the hills for the first time in a month. Glencoe is usually the first place that comes into my head when there is guaranteed sunshine on offer,but i didn't want anything too taxing so I chose beinn a'chrulaiste via the pink rib.
I set off relatively early as i thought on a sunny Sunday a certain mountain across the road from the one i was doing would be a popular destination and parking would be at a premium.i wasn't wrong, there was only one space left in the layby.
I parked up,had a bite to eat,slowly got ready (I was in no hurry ),and eventually set off 3/4 of an hour later along the west highland way.there wasn't a cloud in the sky and the bauchaille as usual looked impressive.
Pretty soon the pink rib came into view,although it didn't look very pink.
I left the whw where the road bends and headed to where the burns come together further up the hill,crossed the burn with no problem,then headed straight up to the rib,there's a waterfall right next to it that would look really impressive in full spate.
pink rib from below
I sat here for a while just taking it all in and taking a few photos, its just stunning up there.
After a while i set off scrambling up the rib,great fun and over all to quickly, really enjoyed it always looking for harder bits to do.
from the top i set off northeast for the summit always looking back at the view of the bauchailles and the bidean range,they just look better and better the higher you get.
couldn't resist posing with b.e.m
Further up the hill suddenly a ptarmigan came out from behind a boulder in a threatening manner loudly letting me hear its battle cry, i nearly s.... myself
i duly backed off and gave it a wide berth.
the victor,standing tall after a successful ambush.
I reached the trig shortly after that little skirmish and the views opened up all around, the ben,the mamores etc.....superb.
I headed down after a while towards stob beinn a'chrulaiste, easy going taking photo's as i went.
When i got to stob beinn a'chrulaiste, there was a rocky outcrop, so i dumped my bag and did a wee bit more scrambling,great fun,
It gets alot steeper, wetter and muddy in places from here, a combination of which saw me slip,fall and land on my backside in laurel and hardy fashion......twice!!.
,luckily no one was there to witness this total loss of dignity.
nearly there
Once i got down most of the way i followed a fence all the way back to the whw,from here it was just a stone's throw to the car.
Despite falling victim to a brutal ambush on the way up,and steep,muddy underfoot conditions on the way down,i had a smile on my face when i reached the car
glencoe is a wonderful place and although this hill is completely overshadowed by its neighbours,this is an enjoyable, fun way up it and the views just don't get much better.
